– Ugh, ugh…!
My eyes are closed. Thanks to that, the world, once dark, suddenly exploded into a riot of colors.
It wasn’t joyous. It didn’t really look like that. My brain was just beginning to short-circuit, conjuring up hallucinations.
I just died.
A series of slashes severed my waist and wrists. Countless and continuous strikes chopped my whole body into pieces.
An axe dropped from the sky split my head open, and a hammer crushed my upper body.
A spear, slithering like a snake, stabbed into my heart, while a scythe severed my neck.
Observations predicted the outcome, but my body couldn’t respond.
A horrific sensation invaded my mind. A strange feeling where life disconnected and then reconnected jolted my brain.
I didn’t die.
I regained my senses.
I was sprawled on the wasteland where I first entered the Tower of Growth, gasping for breath.
‘Sigh…’
Soon after, I sensed a presence within my observation range. It was the second round.
From far away, it was trudging this way.
My inventory opened up. From the swaying space emerged a black iron spear. A version of myself from the second round was gradually approaching, clutching the spear.
I hurriedly got to my feet. It felt as if my brain and organs were mashed into a pulp, but my body swiftly prepared for battle.
‘Don’t die too much.’
There’s no answer in a direct confrontation.
That side is overwhelmingly talented. There’s no need to mention expansion abilities; I’m already at a disadvantage. Just approaching puts the second round in an advantageous position.
Charging in recklessly and dying would do no good. Experiencing death rapidly drains my mental and physical stamina.
The moment my stamina hits zero, a massive catastrophe where my powers extinguish will occur.
‘Let’s widen the distance.’
If I do that, I could pull out a bow and continuously unleash arrows, but if I use Taesan and elemental summoning together, I could withstand it.
And drag this out…
…
Suddenly, I stopped thinking. My body, which had been trying to retreat, froze.
I felt puzzled.
What would I do by dragging it out?
Acquire information? I have the power of observation, but the fastest and most accurate way to obtain information and hone my skills in real-time is to directly clash.
‘…This is the Tower of Growth.’
A space for growth. What matters here is not survival or victory.
It’s a place where, even if I end up losing, I can grow and return.
In this place, I do not die. My body, which had been torn apart, would recover, and even if my mind was in agony, I’d still be intact.
The blessing of growth amplifies. I’m experiencing it right now. My body is boiling and growing in real-time, and my skills are rising sharply.
I don’t intend to, but if I show signs of giving up, I could immediately return to reality.
The time I can stay in this convenient and nonsensical space is at most five days. It’s very short.
So, why waste time worrying and cautiously maintaining distance?
It’s not even worth considering.
‘…Manifest power, space.’
I gritted my teeth and opened a subspace. Within it, I retrieved countless weapons, pulling forth a spear.
A spear similar to the one from the second round.
There’s no chance in direct confrontation.
That side is overwhelmingly talented.
Without mentioning expansion abilities, it’s clear I’m at a disadvantage. Engaging in close combat would be foolish.
Instead, I’d show even more steep growth.
My body and head would hurt. For some reason, sensations are rendered physically, so it’s bound to hurt like hell.
Fear came over me. No matter how much time passes, one’s nature doesn’t change; even the thought of being pricked by a needle can bring tears.
Right now, I can retreat under the guise of excuses, but soon I won’t be able to.
In truly crucial moments. When I absolutely cannot back down. When I must not fall.
It’s not just about a worthless guy like me dying—there are those far more precious than me at risk.
To overcome such moments… I need to grow now.
I gripped the spear tightly and walked towards the second round.
—
Upon entering the Tower of Growth, Baek Ahrin found herself in a snowy landscape covered in pristine white snow.
The river that should have flowed gently was frozen solid, and the bare branches were adorned not with green leaves, but with pure white snowflakes.
Baek Ahrin casually raised her hand.
Soon, a small snowflake fell onto the back of her hand. Although it wasn’t snowing heavily, the flake landed exactly on her skin.
The snow wasn’t cold.
The snow clinging to her hand didn’t melt from her body temperature.
In the first place, there was no reason for the snow to melt since it was similar to her body temperature.
Baek Ahrin’s abilities were particularly specialized in cold. She wielded it even beyond the level of basic control, focusing her talents on the cold.
Thus, her body was adapted to easily absorb cold.
The energy flowing through her circuits was chilling, and even the blood running through her veins felt cold enough to consider it chilling.
Her bones, muscles, and skin were all cold, devoid of warmth.
With such a frozen body, her sensations were dulled too.
‘It’s cold.’
Yet Baek Ahrin felt the snow was cold. Even though it was warmer than her body temperature… The snow felt cold to her.
In fact, it wasn’t just the snow. The mana within her body, the blood… She simply recognized her body as cold.
That felt terribly uncomfortable. A physiological aversion arose. A body that showed no hints of melting, even if scalded with fire, is irritating.
Baek Ahrin shook off the snow and turned her head.
The surroundings looked quite different from when she first entered.
The pure white snow covering the ground had long since vanished. The rough, barren earth was fully visible, having been disturbed into chaos by the battle.
“Can you not talk?”
She casually turned her head and addressed the large crater on the ground.
A pure white frost settled on the entity, and the severed limbs were frozen, not a drop of blood oozing out.
It was a replica of Baek Ahrin created by the Tower of Growth.
“Can’t communicate, huh? Is it a functional issue, or is it deliberately blocked…?”
The replica was unable to communicate. She attempted to engage in conversation, but it simply rushed at her with murderous intent.
“Honestly, it’d be chilling if replicas could talk.”
Can you imagine having a conversation with something you’re going to beat up anyway? Not a pleasant feeling.
Baek Ahrin nodded to herself.
She had just subdued that replica moments ago.
Of course, she wasn’t in pristine condition either.
Her hair was disheveled, and she had injuries all over, but there was no pain. She didn’t look as miserable as the replica.
‘About four days…? Tough.’
Subduing the replica took her from the very first day.
In terms of abilities and skills, they were the same, so if they engaged right away, the chance of victory was fifty-fifty.
But it took her four days to subdue it more skillfully.
‘I wonder if Yeon-hwa was quicker than me? She’s such a fighter, she might’ve dispatched it in no time and is busy fighting other monsters.’
In other words, Baek Ahrin had grown enough in three days to easily subdue her former self from her first entry into the tower.
‘The tower’s really cheating…’
The blessing of growth, and the effects of entering the tower are all absurdly overpowered.
Thanks to that, the young superhumans have their guardians crawling on the ground in fear of Shio-ram.
‘I want to come here every week.’
Then, within half a year, wouldn’t it be easy to reach the highest level? Of course, that’s realistically impossible…
– Crunch…
As Baek Ahrin was briefly recovering her mind and body.
The replica was looking up at Baek Ahrin with its emotionless eyes, twitching its body.
It seemed to be attempting some form of resistance, but the numerous ice stakes firmly embedded throughout its body completely prevented it from moving.
They were stakes heavy with curses of oppression and wound weakening. Once that many were lodged in, movement was impossible.
Moreover, both its core and circuits were destroyed, with no residual mana left, so retaliation was not an option.
“……”
Baek Ahrin stared down at the replica. Its torn limbs writhing on the ground resembled a bug.
The replica bore the same outward appearance as Baek Ahrin.
With eyes that remind one of the clear sea and long, flowing hair.
The curves of a plump body, along with the structure of its circuits, core, and mana quality were all identical.
But it was different.
The replica did not smile. Its eyes were devoid of emotion, and the corners of its mouth did not form a curve.
Just that made Baek Ahrin’s impression on it take a 180-degree turn.
What had been the impression of wide, blue seas, and a gentle demeanor now felt like looking at a cold, lifeless glacier.
“Tsk.”
Everything about its cold and dull body and its expressionless demeanor was nauseating.
No matter how hard she tried to overcome it, there wasn’t much progress. She held the small hope of leaning on Hong Yeon-hwa.
But of late, great possibilities had emerged.
Baek Ahrin smiled brightly and jumped up.
She approached the replica sprawled on the crater floor.
After briefly glancing at the still-wriggling replica, she gripped the ice spear formed from her abilities.
The sparkling spearpoint aimed at the replica.
“Well then… should I summon a monster too?”
– Crunch!
The spear plunged into the chest of the replica.
—
– Crunch!
In an instant, the spear pierced through the chest.
A chilling energy gnawed at her flesh.
With a gasp, she barely managed to hold onto the spear as it attempted to delve deeper. The tip trembled as it scraped against the ribcage.
A brief struggle ensued.
If it continued, she’d be skewered.
Lee Ha-yul struck the spear with his fist.
Jack of All Trades expansion ability
Transformation – Breakthrough of the Iron Staff
– Crunch! The black iron spear snapped like a twig.
The second round gave up on the spear without regret and moved both hands. A hand imbued with red energy rushed in.
Having already faced that several times, he had felt his skeleton being ripped out and experienced having his heart and head burst from continued strikes.
Lee Ha-yul reached out as well.
Bang! White and red afterimages tangled chaotically as their hands intertwined.
The second round’s eyes focused on Lee Ha-yul.
The claws, stretching out like lightning, twist the limbs the moment they catch.
He reacted. Lee Ha-yul’s elbow that responded within the instant struck down at the forearm.
Having managed to fend off the attack, Lee Ha-yul extended his hand in return.
Different from the second round’s movements. It was a blur, as if mist was swirling, the shape of the object veiling its movement aimed for the second round’s throat.
‘Expansion abilities.’
He evaded it. After identifying the shape, he twisted the trajectory. Right after, the eyes of the second round seized a small opening.
Bam! He stomped down hard as he pushed his body away. Twisting his upper body, he leaned his shoulder forward.
Body slam expansion ability
Advancing Impact Mountain
An included torso headbutt within the expansion abilities. The second round’s massive body lunged at Lee Ha-yul.
– Boom!
A colossal shockwave erupted. The entire ground trembled.
A powerful impact flowed through his body. Lee Ha-yul calmly stomped on the ground.
– Crunch!
The earth immediately collapsed. The dirt, swept away by the impact, vanished into dust. Lee Ha-yul, having skillfully absorbed the shock, opened his hand.
A swirling energy wrapped around his elbow.
Implementing what he had previously learned, he executed a raging whirlpool with a forceful attack.
– Roar!
A white whirlwind expanded. The swirling energy swept forward, engulfing everything in its path.
Just before the whirlwind expanded, the second round, having pulled back from the hit range, landed lightly.
The wild vortex, which had been extending, gradually settled down.
The dust cloud shrouded the area, but the second round’s eyes locked onto Lee Ha-yul.
Casting off the swirling energy clinging to his arm, Lee Ha-yul turned his body.
‘……’
The second round observed him intently, recalling the previous encounters.
Back when Lee Ha-yul had just entered the Tower of Growth.
He had many talents and decent skills, so he could be subdued. Even if he showcased his abilities, and especially in close combat, he was easier to handle.
Now…
‘It’s no easy feat to subdue him.’
Although his skills were considerable, subduing him was quite challenging.
In fact, he was also at a disadvantage, facing counterattacks.
It had only been a few days, but Lee Ha-yul’s ability had shot up like crazy.
Although it was intentional, even considering the blessing of growth, it was astounding for the second round.
‘Is the real one that different?’
It was a foolish thought, but it felt disheartening.
The second round concealed its bitterness as it confronted the rushing Lee Ha-yul.
—
[Unique ability “Jack of All Trades” is rapidly evolving.]
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
